Method of marking tennis-courts



(No Model.)

W. TH AYER.

METHOD OF MARKING TENNIS COURTS, 6:0.-

No. 891,660. PatentedOct. 23, 1888.

iln rnn S'rnrns Parent Ulrich.

\VINTHRO P THAYEB, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF MARKING TENNlS-COURTS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,660, dated October 23, 1888.

Serial No. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Wln'rnnor THAYER, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, haveinvented a new and useful Method of Marking Tennis or other Courts orGrounds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

Theinvention relates to the method of marking the bounds and divisional lines of tennis or other courts or grounds by strips of fabric secured in place by their edges, which extend below the surface of the court or grounds, and are held confined beneath said surface in any desired way.

The object of the invention is to provide a durable, simple, and easy method of making or establishing the bounds of such courts or grounds, and at the same time to provide a divisional or separating line which shall be plainly discernible, which shall also be narrow and straight, and which shall not obstruct in any way or interfere with the playing of the game, cause any obstruction, or be effaced or damaged.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the in vention applied to a tennis-court. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the method of fastening the strips in place; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the strip.

In practicing the invent-ion the grounds are properly prepared, and there is then formed in them, upon the lines of the court, narrow trenches of a depth to receive thelower section of the fabric which forms the divisional lines. This fabric, which has been previously prepared by being formed to the desired width and of the necessary length, and which is made of cotton cloth or of any other suitable material of a similar flexible nature, is then inserted or placed in the trenches, and, if desired, fastened to the ground therein before the earth or sod is returned by means of pins, or by weights placed upon the edge thereof, or by a strip of wood placed over the same, as represented in Figs. 4 and 5, or in any other desired way, and the trench is then filled with earth, which is firmly packed on the lower edge and against the sides of the fabric and the grounds restored to their original condition. This will bring a section of the fabric to any desired height above the surface of the grounds and will form a narrow, sharp, welldefined line of separation, one that cannot easily be broken or disturbed in any way, and which will not cause any obstruction to the game, will not cause balls strikingit to be deflected, and one which will show at once upon which side of the line the balls strike.

I would say that it is not necessary that the edge of the fabric be secured by pins or other similar means below the surface of the ground, as the weight of the earth packed against it after it has been placed in the trench will in many cases be sufficientl y strong; yet, as a rule, it is better that it be fastened in place by some additional means; but I do not confine myself to any particular form of fastening.

The fabric may be prepared for use by having the edge which is to be inserted or placed in the ground hemmed or bound and finished with holes for the reception of the fasteningpins or other fastening device.

The invention is not confined to ten his-courts; but may be used for marking the bounds and divisions of any court or grounds for outdoor sports and games.

In the drawings, A represents the marking or divisional lines of fabric. a, Fig. 1, represents a trench formed to receive thelower edge of the fabric. a indicates the fastening-pegs driven through the margin of the strip below the surface of the ground. or represents the fastening strip laid in the trench upon the margin of the strip and covered with earth.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States The method of marking a tennis or other court orgrounds,consistingin forming trenches upon the lines of the court or ground, then placing a fabric of suitable width therein, so that one edge shall project above the upper surface of the ground, and then filling the.

trench to the level of the grounds,substantially as described.

\VINTHROP THAYEB. Vitnesscs:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, FRED. B. DOLAN. 

